The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

The wind howled fiercely, its shrill cries like the wails of ghosts.

The silk sails of the fairy boat fluttered loudly in the wind, and the pearl curtains swayed wildly, creating a chaotic and rapid sound.

"How did the weather suddenly change?"

Yue Zhongtian frowned, stepped forward to shield Tang Xixue behind him, and placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist.

"The weather along the Tianqu waterway is usually stable; it's never changed so suddenly before. Something's wrong; we must reinforce the protective shields!"

Before the words were even finished, a tornado descended from the sky.

The tornado was jet black, carrying countless shards of ice and snowflakes, like a giant whip lashed down from the heavens, carrying a destructive force as it slammed into the immortal ship.

The light blue protective shield of the fairy boat lit up instantly, with flowing spiritual light, keeping the tornado outside.

In less than three breaths, the protective shield emitted a piercing cracking sound.

"Click."

"Click-clack".

Cracks spread like a spider web across the protective shield, expanding from one corner to the entire barrier.

The light of his spirit flickered uncertainly, like a candle burning in the wind.

"The protective shield can't hold up any longer!"

Yue Lanwei shouted, his voice filled with barely suppressed horror.

Before the words were even finished, the protective shield shattered under the tornado, turning into countless pale blue specks of light that were swept away by the gale and disappeared into the dark clouds.

The fairy boat suddenly shuddered and tilted.

Several Moon Guards who were unsteady on their feet were thrown to the side of the ship and nearly fell off.

"Ah Xue!"

The wind scorched her hands, and her palms touched the corner of her sleeves.

"Your Highness, be careful!"

Mu Liang emerged from the shadows, a look of worry appearing on his usually expressionless face.

Two hands reached out to her simultaneously in the strong wind.

One is as eager as a raging fire, the other as steady as a rock.

"Everyone get into the cabin and protect yourselves."

Tang Xixue's voice rang out in the gale, calm and composed.

The voice pierced through the howling wind, clear and sharp as a frost blade, landing in the ears of every Moonlit Guard, carrying an undeniable majesty.

"That's an order."

She reached out and grasped both Feng Zhuo and Mu Liang's hands at the same time.

The hurricane completely shredded the remaining protective shield, and the fairy boat was tossed up and down like a withered leaf in the tornado.

The ship groaned under the strain, and the mast snapped in half.

The silk gauze sail was torn into countless pieces, like a flock of kites with broken strings, disappearing into the dark clouds.

"His Majesty!"

The cry from the moonlit sky was torn apart by the wind.

He reached out his hand to her, but the gale pulled them further and further apart.

His dark blue brocade robe was filled with wind, and he was thrown towards the cabin.

He could only watch helplessly as that figure in crimson begonia, along with Feng Zhuo and Mu Liang, was swept away by the hurricane and disappeared into the vast snowstorm.

The celestial boat tumbled several times in the gale before finally being thrown out of the tornado's range and crashing heavily into the clouds.

Yue Zhongtian crawled up from the shattered side of the ship, a bloody gash on his forehead from a splinter of wood.

Blood streamed down his cheeks, but he was completely unaware.

"Go after them!"

His voice was hoarse, as if it had been sanded.

His hands gripped the gunwale tightly, his knuckles embedded in the cracks of the broken planks, blood mingling with splinters.

"Chase after them immediately!"

His eyes were now bloodshot, like those of a caged beast that had been provoked.

"Mobilize all available forces from the Moonlit Sea Kingdom to seal off this airspace!"

"We must find Her Majesty; she will be alright."

She'll be alright.

She is Tangxi Xue.

She is his Empress.

He repeated the sentence, as if trying to convince himself.

"She'll be alright."

Meanwhile, in Suspended Star City.

In the quiet room of the Tianji Pavilion branch, Yan Ci sat upright at his desk, gently waving a folding fan in his hand.

On the table lay a city defense map of Xuanxing City, next to which was a thick stack of documents, each marked with the words "old accounts to be verified".

His gaze fell on one of the documents, a “letter of friendly consultation” that Chu Yi had just sent. The wording was polite, but the words were full of probing.

He smiled slightly, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and prepared to send a reply that was equally polite but said nothing.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door. Immediately afterwards, a spy from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion practically burst through the door, kneeling on one knee, his voice filled with barely suppressed panic.

"Master! Urgent report!"

Yan Ci put down his pen.

The undercover agent is usually calm and collected; he would never lose his composure like this unless it was something extremely serious.

He raised his eyes, his voice still calm and unhurried.

"explain."

"The Moon-Weaving Celestial Ship carrying His Highness was caught in a sudden storm in the Southern Territory, and crashed. His Highness... is missing!"

The folding fan suddenly stopped at Yan Ci's fingertips.

The hand, which was always as steady as Mount Tai, paused for a moment in mid-air before slowly closing.

His knuckles turned white, and the fan ribs made a soft cracking sound in his palm.

"What exactly is the situation?"

He asked, his voice still steady, but with a hint of coldness compared to before.

"A sudden blizzard has struck the southern border of Xingze, freezing the Nine Dragons Waterfall—a phenomenon unseen in a century. There is currently no news regarding the whereabouts of the young prince."

Yan Ci remained silent for a moment.

He stood up, tucked the folding fan into his sleeve, and picked up the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master's token from the table. His movements were unhurried, yet they carried a sense of impending doom.

"Order the Nine Provinces Branch of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion to deploy all Shadow Guards to seal off the airspace over the southern border."

He orchestrated so many schemes and paved so many paths, all for her.

"His Highness will surely be able to turn misfortune into good fortune."

He pushed open the window of the quiet room.

Outside the window, dark clouds had gathered in the sky above Xuanxing City, pressing heavily on the horizon as if snow was about to fall.

A gust of wind blew in through the window, swirling up the Xuan paper on the table.

Then he turned around and strode towards the door.

The white robe with black patterns fluttered slightly at the threshold before disappearing into the shadows of the corridor.

The Imperial Study in Moon Soul Star City.

Chu Yi presented an urgent report with both hands.

"Your Majesty, the three Tianxing mines have been seized by Beichen. It was the work of the Tianji Pavilion... Yan Ci was the one who did it."

"If they've already stolen it, they've stolen it."

Si Xingzhou's voice was devoid of emotion, as if the three priceless Tianxing mines were nothing more than three insignificant pebbles.

"We admit that Yan Ci was more skilled. We'll win next time."

Chu Yi remained silent for a moment.

He knew that His Majesty's mind was not on the Tianxing Mine at all.

Three mines? His Majesty wouldn't even blink an eye.

But he still had to finish what he was saying.

"There is one more thing. The immortal ship of the Moon Weaving Sea Kingdom... encountered a tornado in the southern airspace and crashed."

"Princess Mirror's whereabouts remain unknown. The Nine Dragons Waterfall has frozen solid. Rumors are circulating in the court that Zhiyue disturbed a celestial vein, causing this calamity, and it is also said that..."

"What else is there to say?"

Si Xingzhou's voice suddenly turned cold.

"And they even said it might be a conspiracy by Zhiyue?"

"presumptuous."

In Si Xingzhou's eyes, an emotion was surging uncontrollably.

Chu Yi had followed him for so many years and had never seen him show such a look in his eyes.

That wasn't anger, that wasn't murderous intent, that was fear.

Emperor Xingze never feared anything, but at this moment, his hands were trembling slightly.

"Kagami would never do such a thing."

"Never let me hear another word that slanders her. Not in the imperial court, not on the streets, not in any corner of the Nine Provinces. Anyone who dares to utter another word will have their tongue ripped off."

"I need to know she's safe. Investigate immediately..."

Si Xingzhou suddenly stood up.

"Your Majesty, the court cannot be without a ruler for even a day. If you were to go in person..."

"My mind is made up. The Prime Minister will temporarily handle matters of state. I will personally go to find them. In addition, I will send several senior officials with me."

Si Xingzhou interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for doubt, like an ironclad order.

The imperial robes, adorned with stars, billowed like the night sky as he turned.

He took two steps, then suddenly stopped.

"Also... remember, don't let His Highness Prince Xuan know. He's still recuperating in the Holy Land. If he finds out, given his personality, he'll probably rush out without a second thought."

"His body hasn't recovered yet and he can't afford any more stress. If even a whisper of this gets out of the Holy Land..."

He glanced at Chu Yi, his expression calm as still water, yet a chilling warning lurked beneath.

"I will punish you as well."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Chu Yi bowed and accepted the order, his vest already damp with a thin layer of sweat.

"I understand. I will take care of it immediately."